Toy eye-blinking and tail-wagging device



. H. RUBENSTEIN TOY EYE-BLINKING AND TAIL-WAGGING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 2, 1937.

Filed July so, 1936 Henry Babe INVENTOR ATTORNEYs 1937. H. RUBENSTEIN TOY EYE-BLINKING AND TAIL-WAGGING DEVICE Filed July 30, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 milll WW 16 flem 'jeub e/zsiezrz INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVI Henry Rubenstein, New York, N. Y.

Application July 30, 1936, Serial No.- 93,502

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to toys such as stuffed dolls and animals and more particularly to devices associated with articles of this character by which the eyes are caused to be blinked, the

device also including means for actuating the tail of a stuffed animal in the manner of wagging.

The general object of the invention is to provide a device adapted to be incorporated in the structure of a stuffed animal or doll equipped with illuminating eyes, the device being so arranged that upon patting or slightly impacting the doll the eyes will be alternately illuminated in a fashion so as to simulate blinking of the eyes.

A further object resides in the provision of an eye-blinking device which, when used in a toy stufled animal, may be employed as the controlling element for an electro-magnetic tail-wagging device.

Another object is to provide in conjunction with an eye-blinker or a. tail-wagging device, an oscillatory contact switch of a novel construction rendering same particularly sensitive to the slightest impact such as is had by lightly patting a stuffed animal.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type of electric socket forming the illuminating eye piece of a doll or toy animal, the same being adapted to retain an illuminatingelement therein and also affording detachable means for the retention of a transparent member forming a lens so arranged as to simulate an eye ball.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrically operated tail-wagging device, the same being mechanically suspended so that the tail after being actuated in wagging is brought back to its normal central position.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the fol- 40 lowing detmled description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of the application.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the eyeblinking and tail-wagging device applied for example to a stuffed animal, the latter being shown in outline.

Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view thru the entire mechanism comprising the eye blinker and tail-wagging device, parts of same being shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2, showing a plan view of the vibratory contact element comprising the device.

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section thru the electro-magnetic element actuating the tail in wagging, being taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the .tubular casing forming the housing of the device and including an end plug removed from the cas- 5 ing showing portions of the tail-wagging device attached thereto.

' Fig. 6 is a. schematic wiring diagram of the entire device as shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary vertical and horizontal sectional views, respectively, of a modified form of the oscillatory contact switch shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section thru the illuminating eye socket including the eye piece thereof; and

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the eye piece shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary wiring diagram showing a different form of switch. 20

It is preferred to carry out the invention by installing interiorly of the stuffed doll or animal a suitable source of current'supply such as a battery, in circuit with which is arranged a vibratory contact switch having one or more contact points. 25 In employing my device as an eye blinker the eyes of the doll are provided with suitable illuminating elements, each of which are arranged in circuit with the respective contact points of the vibratory switch. Thus, upon impact such as by patting the doll the eyes will be illuminated in a manner so as to give the impression of blinking the eyes.

Where the device is applied to such toys as stuiied animals the mentioned battery and vibratory switch may also be employed to efiect the wagging of the animals tail. Briefly stated, the tail-wagging device comprises a resiliently suspended actuating means including a pair of op posed magnet coils and the floating metallic core disposed therein. The respective coils are controlled and alternately energized by the mentioned vibratory switch so that upon patting the animal the tail will be caused to wag.

Reference is now had to-the accompanying drawings for a more detailed description thereof and particularly to Fig. 1, wherein the mentioned doll is represented by the outline ll of an animal. Suitably supported interiorly of the animal, as by inserting into the stuiiing thereof, is arranged a tubular casing l2 adapted tocontain the bat- 50 teries and vibratory switch of the device. The eyes l3 of the animal are equipped with illuminating elements, the same being in circuit with the vibratory switch as hereinafter described. The tail-wagging device indicated generally by numeral it includes an actuating unit it, the same being preferably resiliently suspended from an end of the casing l2. 1

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be ob-- served that within the casing [12 is disposed a suitable number of batteries it, one terminal of which is arranged to engage a contact i'l forming part of the mentioned vibratory switch The supporting structure for the switch it is preferably formed of a ring it to permit the ar= rangement of the casing l2 in any desired position within the stufied, toy. It will be observed after a detailed description or the switch it is had that the proper operation of its resiliently mounted arm 2% requires that the axis of the arm be disposed in a horizontal plane. By supporting the vibratory switch it in the ring it the position of the switch it may be varied so that the arm 2a is horizontal altho the casing 52 be disposed on a vertical axis as would be required by standing dolls. The arm 22 is fixed at one end to the ring it, being electrically connected to the contact ii. and is provided at its free end with a suitable weight 2i preferably composed of a cross bar having weight elements at each end thereof. The arm 28 is resiliently formed by being fabricated of a spring strip preferably arranged in a tapering helical spring flattened so that portions of the convolutions thereof are brought into paral lelism with each other substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Adjacent the free end of the arm 22 is secured a pair of laterally projecting con tact elements 22, the free portionsof which are arcuately formed. A pair of contacts 23 are anchored at suitable points on the ring it present ing terminals 26. The contacts 223, being resilient, project arcuately from the ring it to be disposed for contact by the respective elements 22, substantially as shown in Fig. 2. The terminals 20 are electrically connected to the respective eye sockets it in the manner illustrated in the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 6. It will be seen from this that as the doll is patted the slight impact will cause the arm 2@ to vibrate, thereby alternately energizing, thru the elements 22 and the contacts 23, the respective eye sockets it and thus illuminating the elements therein. It will be apparent that a single element 22 and a single contact 23 may be employed, in which case both eye sockets it may be controlled by the single contact Such an arrangement would effectthe intermittent illumination of both of the eyes it at the same time, as shown in Fig. 11. I

The opposite end of the casing i2 is closed by a removable plug 25, the same including a cen= tral terminal 2% to which is secured a spring 2'11 adapted to bear against the end of one of the batteries it to hold the foremost battery in contact with the terminal ill. The plug 25 forms a detachable support for the tail-wagging device it and includes electrical means for connecting two conductors issuing from the vibratory switch it, specifically the terminals 25, to the tail-wagging device. This arrangement is preferably carried out in the manner shown in Fig. 5 by afflxing to the end of the casing 92 a metallic ring 2% cut into a plurality of sections as by a saw cut 29.

The ring 28, thus divided, presents three conductor terminals, two of which are connected to the respective terminals 26 thru bus bars it. The third section of ring 28 is connected to the neutral wire of the circuit including the eye sockets it thru a third bus bar 2i.

It will be observed after a detailed description of the tail-wagging device this had that the actu- I assume ating element it thereof has three wire connections issuing from same. The mentioned wire connections are brought into circuit with the vibratory switch it thru a series of radial pins 82 extending from the plug 25. Intermediate the respective sections forming the ring 22 are cut L-slots 22, into which the respective pins iii are inserted, thereby holding the plug it in place and at the same time forming electrical connections to the respective terminals of the switch it. Terminal screws 2 3, being threaded into the plug 255, are disposed to contact the respective radial pins 232 and thus provide terminals for connection of the wires issuing from the tail-wagging actuating element ill.

Reference is now directed to Figs. 2 and i for a description of the tail-wagging device. The actuating element it comprises a tube Sit on which is wound in axial alignment a pair of magnetic coils ill and fill. The ends of the tube lit are each closed by a resilient disc 3t and the tube it has within its bore a floating core ill. The re spective coils ST! and tilt are oppositely wound so that upon being energized alternately the floating core ilt is attracted to either end of the tube 86. In so moving, the core flit impacts one of the resilient discs tit and is thus rebounded toward the opposite end of the tubett to which it is brought by energizing the opposite coll. As shown in Fig. l, the actuating element ill is formed within the tall structure of the stuffed animal adjacent the end thereof and as the floating core ill is reclprocated within the element iii, as described, the resultant alternate impact will cause the tail to move in a wagging fashion.

The element it is resiliently mounted to the plug 25, preferably in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 5, by having a rod ill amxed to the element it at one end, the other end being vpivotally connected to a bracket l2 secured to the plug 25, the pin it forming the pivotal connection.

To return the tail to its central normal position as the actuating element is deenergized a spring i t is provided. The rod (ii is reduced adjacent its pivotal end to form shoulders it. The spring M surrounds the reduced portion of rod M to have its respective ends engaged under pressure against the bracket t2 and the shoulders it. The neutral connection to the magnetic coils ill! and 88 is carried thru the rod ti and the bracket 62, one of the holding screws of the bracket being in contact with a radial pin 32 to complete the circuit.

Reference is now directed to Figs. '7 and 8, in which is illustrated a modified form of the vibratory switch it shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In this form the resilient arm'tt is anchored at one end on a cross bar ll, the latter being secured to the walls of the tube l2 and disposed to contact a terminal of the battery it This form of vibratory switch is modified particularly in the manner of forming the resilient arm it which is fabricated of a strip of spring metal bent into a zig-zag shape, as shown in Fig. "l. The free end of the arm lit is provided with a suitable weight it adapted to cause the arm db to vibrate when subjected to impact. A pair scription of the preferred arrangement of the eye sockets IS. The unit forming the eye piece of a doll or stuffed animal preferably comprises a lens 5| shaped and colored to simulate an eye ball and an illuminating element 52 disposed behind the lens. The supporting structure of the eye socket l3 presents a tube 53, the interior walls 54 of which are formed toclosely engage-an electric bulb presenting the illuminating element 52. The inner end or the tube 53 is closed by an insulating disc 55 at the center of which is provided a terminal 56 disposed to contact one terminal of the bulb 52. being inserted endwise intosame, contacts the tube 53 to form the other circuit of the illuminating element. The underside of the lens 5| has secured thereto a helical form of wire 58, the same being arranged to engage an internal thread 59 cut in the tube 53. The free end of the helical wire 55 terminates in a ring 60 of a size to press against the glass end of the bulb 52.

The structure of the eye socket l3, as just described, presents an arrangement of economic manufacture in that the tube 53 is of simple form and provides a recess for the reception of the bulb 52 and also a holding means'for the lens 5|. By forming the helical wire 58 in a ring 5|] the same functions both to hold the lens 5| in place and also to hold the bulb 52 in contact with the terminal: I

It is to be understood th'at'tlifs improvementls capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the pr'eciseconstruction described and, therefore,'siichcli'a'n'ges and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is: g

1. In a toy doll having illuminating eye elements, the combination of a source of electric current and a vibratory switch in circuit with said current source and said illuminating eye elements, said vibratory switch comprising a resilient arm anchored at one end and weighted at its opposite end and adapted to alternately close and open an electric circuit including said eye elements upon being impacted to simulate the blinking of said eye elements, said arm being rendered resilient by being formed of metal under torsion.

2. In a toy doll having illuminating eye elements, the combination of a source of electric current and a vibratory switch in circuit with said current source and said illuminating eye elements, said vibratory switch comprising a resilient arm anchored at one end and weighted at its opposite end and adapted to alternately close and open an electric circuit including said eye elements upon being impacted to simulate the blinking of said eye elements, said resilient arm being formed of an irregularly directed metal stri intermediate the ends thereof.

3. In a toy doll having'illuminating eye elements, the combination of a source of electric current and a vibratory switch in circuit with said current source and said illuminating eye elements, said vibratory switch comprising a resilient arm anchored at one end and weighted at its opposite end and adapted to alternately close and open an electric circuit including said eye elements upon being impacted to simulate the blinking of said The screw base 51 of the bulb 52,

' 4. In a toy doll having illuminating eye elements, the combination of a source of electric .current and a vibratory switch in circuit with comprising a spring strip bent intermediate its of a source of electric current and a vibratory switch in circuit with said current source, an electro-magnetic tail-actuating means disposed in said tail and in circuit with said current source and said vibratory switch whereby. said tail-wagging actuating element will be alternately energized as said vibratory switch is caused tovibrate as ,by being impacted, thereby causing the tail to be wagged, said tail-actuatng means comprising opposed electric coils having a common bore and a floating core adapted to be alternately attracted by said coils.

7. In a toy doll having a tall, the combination of a source of electric current and a vibratory switch in circuit with said current source, an electro-magnetic tail-actuating means disposed in said tail and in circuit with said current source and said vibratory switch whereby said tail-wagging actuating element will be alternately energized as said vibratory switch is caused to vibrate as by being impacted, thereby causing the tail to be wagged, said tail-actuating means comprising opposed electric coils having a common bore and a floating core adapted to be alternately attracted by said coils, said coils having a resilient means pivotally suspended from the body of said doll on an arm including a spring surrounding same adjacent the pivotal connection thereof, said spring being adapted to urge said arm to normal position.

9. In a toy animal having illuminating eye elements and a tail, said tail including electro-magnetic actuating means, the combination oi. a source of electric current and a vibratory switch in circuit with said current source, said circuit including said illuminating eye elements and said tail-actuating means, said vibratory switch comprising a resilient arm anchored at one end and weighted at its opposite end and adapted to alternately close and open said electric circuit upon being impacted so as to cause said eye elements to be alternately illuminated to simuelate the blinking thereof and to alternately energize said tail-wagging means to actuate the tail being impacted so as to cause said eye elements, to be alternately illuminated to simulate the blinking thereof and to alternately energize said tail-wagging means to actuate-the tail in wagging, said tail-actuating meanscomprising opaeeaica posed electric coils having a coon bore and a floating core adapted to be alternately attracted by said coils.

ii. in a toy doll having illuminating eye elements, the combination of a source oi electric current and a vibratory stch in circuit with said current source and said eye elements, said vibratory switch comprising a resilient arm anchored at one end and weighted at its opposite end and adapted to alternately close and open an electric circuit including said eye elements upon being impacted to simulate the blinking of said eye elements, said illuminating eye elements comprising a tube closed at one end and having a bore adapted to receive an illuminating bulb, said bulb being reciprocable therein, and a lens having a threaded collar, said bore being threaded at its open end to receive said lens collar, said lens collar being arranged to hold said bulb in place in said bore.

HENRY RUBENS'IEIN. 

